Improving communication between people in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and the public is critical to the future of STEM. Partnerships between institutions of higher education with K-12 schools are identified as one effective strategy to support community engagement. We have employed a service-learning model to…

This article addresses the importance of oral communication and many of its fundamental underlying principles. Emphasis is placed on oral presentations, particularly those used in science and engineering. Following this, the author provides a brief outline of an elective graduate level oral communications course that was developed and utilized to…

We designed and implemented a first-year seminar in science course at the University of British Columbia to allow students to develop and improve their scientific writing and argumentation skills. To evaluate the efficacy of the course, we examined the progression that students made between the beginning and the end of the course as assessed by…

We have undertaken an integrated and collaborative approach to developing foundational skills of students in a first year, Introductory Biology course. The course is a large lecture and laboratory course with enrollments ranging from 800-1000 per year. Teaching and Learning experts were brought into the course as weekly "Foundation Skills for…

Describes the guided design format and provides examples of this teaching method, as used in a course entitled, "Methods of Scientific Investigation." Two goals of the course are discussed: (1) teaching subject matter and (2) developing decision-making skills to apply what has been learned to solving real-world problems. (CS)

Presents perspectives on the aims and content of materials science courses and materials engineering courses. Outlines a proposed curriculum for a four-year degree course in engineering and identifies technical and social skills necessary for engineers. (ML)

Describes an introductory physics laboratory course, used at the University of California in Berkeley, designed to teach students some general intellectual skills. Results of the course evaluation are also discussed. (HM)